A Guide to Tevilas Keilim

By: Rabbi B. Forst (reviewed by Rav Belsky)

Reprinted with permission of the Orthodox Union

A Summary of the One who acquires food utensils from a
non-Jew must immerse the utensils in a kosher mikveh prior to use. One
may not use a vessel even once unless tevilah has been
performed. However, food prepared in vessels that had no proper
tevilah, is nevertheless kosher.

b) A utensil made of a material requiring tevilah should be
immersed inclusive of any plastic or wooden parts attached to it. A
utensil made of wood or plastic requires tevilah if any metal is
attached to it, providing that the metal touches the food and is vital
for the utensil’s use. A utensil made of separable parts
requires tevilah only for its metal parts.

c) Tevilah is required only for those utensils used for eating,
drinking or the preparation of food. Only those utensils which come
into direct contact with the food require tevilah. One who purchases a
food utensil for a non food related use (e.g., a knife purchased for
cutting cardboard) need not immerse it. However, it should not be
used, even temporarily, for food use.

d) Those utensils that do not prepare the food for its final edible
state (e.g., a kneading hook) require tevilah without a
b’rachah.

e) Vessels that are used merely for storage should be immersed
without a b’rachah.

f) One may purchase and eat food or drinks directly from their jars
or bottles. Once the jar is emptied of its contents, some poskim
permit reuse of a glass jar for other foods without tevilah. A metal
container, however, should not be reused without tevilah. Some poskim
permit reuse of a tin can that was opened by a Jew.

g) Electrical appliances that come into direct contact with food
require tevilah. An appliance that cannot be immersed in a mikveh
should not be purchased. Thus, an electric urn requires immersion in a
mikveh. It is impossible to do a proper tevilah on an urn unless it is
completely immersed in the water. A Rov should be consulted as to the
proper method of tevilah.

h) Only utensils that belonged to a non-Jew require tevilah. These
include: utensils manufactured by a non-Jewish company (even if partly
owned by Jews), those manufactured by a Jewish company but sold in a
non-Jewish store or even those sold in a Jewish store, if they had
been purchased from a non-Jewish wholesaler. If there is sufficient
reason to suspect that the utensils never belonged to a non-Jew,
tevilah should be done without a b’rachah.

i) Only those utensils owned by a Jew require tevilah. One who
borrows a vessel from a non-Jew (when no kashrus problems apply) may
use it without tevilah.

j) One who wishes to eat in the home of a Jew who has not immersed
his dishes should consult a Rov.

k) During tevilah the utensil must be clean and free from any
foreign object. Therefore any rust, dirt or labels must be removed
prior to tevilah. When removing labels, one must be sure to remove all
glue as well. Stubborn stickers or glue can be removed with nail
polish remover or by spraying with WD 40
silicone spray.

l) One should not permit a minor (a boy below the age of 13 or a
girl below the age of 12) to perform tevilah unless supervised by an
adult. A minor doing tevilah with adult supervision recites the
b’rachah as well. One should preferably not allow a non-Jew
to perform tevilah even when supervised by a Jew.

m) Tevilah should be done only in a kosher mikveh (some
men’s mikvaos are not kosher for tevilas keilim). If a
store has its own mikveh, one must inquire whether it is under the
supervision of a competent rov. One may do tevilas keilim in the ocean
as well. One who wishes to immerse utensils in a lake should consult a
Rov.

n) Before grasping the vessel to be immersed, one should wet
one’s hands in the mikveh. One recites the
b’rachah and immerses the vessel without grasping the
vessel too tightly. Better yet, one should first grasp the vessel with
one hand and transfer it to the other hand while the vessel is under
water. One may immerse the vessel in a basket, but dishes should not
be piled one atop another so as not to obstruct the water from
reaching all surfaces of the dishes.

o)Utensils made of separable parts (e.g., a meat grinder or thermos
bottle) should preferably be immersed in an assembled manner.

Notes

1) There is reason to question whether aluminum requires tevilah, therefore a b’rachah should not be recited.2) The blade and glass jar only.3) Porcelain and china require tevilah without a b’rachah, see section a.4) A vessel that does not touch the food requires no tevilah, see section c.5) A vessel that is used for storage only requires tevilah without a b’rachah, see section e.6) A disposable pan requires no tevilah.7) See section b.8) It is not meant to touch the food.9) Assuming it is used for roasted chicken as well. If, however, it is used for raw chicken only, a b’rachah is not recited.10) See section d.11) Electric coffee makers (e.g., Mr. Coffee) require tevilah.12) Ceramic insert only. A glass or metal insert requires tevilah with a b’rachah.13) Crystal is glass.14) If wood or plastic.15) Often the bottom pot is used for food as well, if not, no tevilah is required.16) Blades only.17) The surface that touches the food is not a material requiring tevilah.18) If used to cut other vegetables as well. If, however, it is used exclusively for potatoes, no b’rachah is recited on the tevilah.19) If metal.20) Only the beaters.21) If wooden, no tevilah is required.22) Some poskim contend that a b’rachah should not be recited.23) If one plan to usually use it for food, tevilah is required. 24) Pyrex is glass.25) If to be used as saucers only. If, however, they will be used as plates, tevilah is required.26) Some poskim contend that it requires no tevilah. Consult your Rav.27) Only the shelf and tray.